Truss assembly and bracing clip and attachment member for use with trusses

Abstract

A truss assembly and truss hanger, bracing clip and attachment member for use with trusses is disclosed. The bracing clip is used for supporting a beam running transverse to a plurality of wooden trusses and includes a connector plate disposed within a first plane having a plurality of sharp projections extending generally perpendicular from the plane of the plate for use in fixedly attaching the connector plate to the top wooden member of the truss, a first surface attached to and extending from the connector plate generally within the first plane, a second surface disposed within a second plane which is attached to the first surface and forming approximately a 90° angle with the first surface, the second surface being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the beam when the second surface is in contact with the beam, a third surface disposed within a third plane which is joined to the second surface and forming approximately a 90° angle with the second plane, the third surface being substantially perpendicular to the first plane, and the third surface being adapted for attachment to said beam underneath and across its thickness.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A bracing clip for use in connecting a beam to a wooden member with the longitudinal axis of the beam extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the wooden member, said bracing clip comprising: (a) a connector plate disposed within a first plane having a plurality of sharp projections extending generally perpendicular from the plane of the plate for use in fixedly attaching the connector plate to the wooden member;   (b) a first side portion attached to and extending from the lower end portion of the connector plate, said side portion generally being within said first plane;   (c) a second side portion disposed within a second plane and attached to said first side portion and forming approximately a 90 degree angle with said first plane and extending in the same direction as said sharp projections of said connector plate, the surface of said second side portion being generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the beam when the second side portion surface is in contact with the width of the beam, the upper end portion of said second side portion terminating below the level of the connector plate, thus allowing the connector plate to be fixed to the wooden member in face-to-face abutment therewith; and   (d) a third portion disposed within a third plane and joined to said second portion along the lower end portion thereof and forming approxmately a 90 degree angle with the plane of said second portion, the third portion being substantially perpendicular to the first portion and the surface of said third portion being adapted for supporting said beam underneath and across its thickness.   
     
     
       2. A bracing clip in accordance with claim 1 further comprising: a fourth portion disposed within a fourth plane which is joined to said third portion and forming approximately a 90 degree angle with the plane of said third portion, said fourth portion projecting toward the connector plate.   
     
     
       3. A bracing clip in accordance with claims 1 or 2, wherein said second and third portions each have a plurality of apertures adapted for receiving fasteners to secure said second and third portions, respectively, into engagement to the width and thickness of the beam. 
     
     
       4. A bracing clip in accordance with claim 1 or 2, wherein said first and second portions extend a distance which is substantially equal to the width of a beam with which the clip is used. 
     
     
       5. A bracing clip in accordance with claim 1 or 2, wherein: (a) the first side portion is tapered in width from a maximum width to a minimum width, the point of attachment of the first side portion to the connector plate being the maximum width of the first side portion and the end of the side portion farthest from the point of attachment being the minimum width; and   (b) the second side portion is tapered in width from a maximum width to a minimum width, the maximum width of the second side portion being located in proximity to the minimum width of the first side portion and the minimum width of the second side portion being located in proximity to the maximum width of the first side portion.   
     
     
       6. A bracing clip in accordance with claim 4, wherein: (a) the first side portion is tapered in width from a maximum width to a minimum width, the point of attachment of the first side portion to the connector plate being the maximum width of the first side portion and the end of the side portion farthest from the point of attachment being the minimum width; and   (b) the second side portion is tapered in width from a maximum width to a minimum width, the maximum width of the second side portion being located in proximity to the minimum width of the first side portion and the minimum width of the second side portion being located in proximity to the maximum width of the first side portion.   
     
     
       7. The bracing clip of claim 1, wherein said wooden member is comprised of a truss having top and bottom spaced apart wooden chords, the bracing clip being adapted for having the connector plate attached to the top wooden chord. 
     
     
       8. A wooden truss assembly comprising: (a) a plurality of spaced apart wooden trusses which extend longitudinally in a first direction, each truss having an upper and a lower spaced apart member; and   (b) a beam extending longitudinally in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the plurality of spaced apart trusses, the beam being disposed between the upper and lower spaced apart wooden members of each truss, said beam being attached to the upper wooden member of said trusses by a bracing clip, said bracing clip comprising: (i) a connector plate disposed within a first plane having a plurality of sharp projections extending generally perpendicular from the plane of the plate for use in fixedly attaching the connector plate to the wooden member;   (ii) a first side portion attached to and extending from the connector plate, said side portion generally being within said first plane;   (iii) a second side portion disposed within a second plane and attached to the first side portion and forming approximately a 90 degree angle with said first plane and extending in the direction of said sharp projections of said connector plate, the surface of said second side portion being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the beam when said second side portion is in contact with the beam;   (iv) a third portion disposed within a third plane and joined to said second side portion and forming approximately a 90 degree angle with the plane of said second side portion, the third portion being substantially perpendicular to the first portion, and the third portion being adapted for supporting said beam underneath and across its thickness.       
     
     
       9. A wooden truss assembly in accordance with claim 8, said bracing clip further comprising: a fourth portion disposed within a fourth plane which is joined to said third portion and forming approximately a 90 degree angle with the plane of said third portion, said fourth portion plane being substantially parallel to said second portion plane and projecting toward the connector plate.   
     
     
       10. A wooden truss assembly in accordance with claims 8 or 9, wherein said second and third portions of said bracing clip each have a plurality of apertures adapted for receiving fasteners to secure said second and third portions, respectively, into engagement to the width and thickness of said beam. 
     
     
       11. A wooden truss assembly in accordance with claim 9 wherein said first and second portions of said bracing clip extend a distance which is substantially equal to the width of said beam. 
     
     
       12. A wooden truss assembly in accordance with claim 9 wherein: (a) the first portion of said bracing clip is tapered in width from a maximum width to a minimum width, the point of attachment of said first portion to the connector plate being the maximum width of said first portion and the end of said first portion farthest from the point of attachment being the minimum width; and   (b) the second portion of said bracing clip is tapered in width from a maximum width to a minimum width, the maximum width of said second portion being located in proximity to the minimum width of said first portion and the minimum width of said second portion being located in proximity to the maximum width of said first portion.   
     
     
       13. A wooden truss assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein: (a) the first portion of said bracing clip is tapered in width from a maximum width to a minimum width, the point of attachment of the first portion to the connector plate being the maximum width of said first portion and the end of said portion farthest from the point of attachment being the minimum width; and   (b) the second portion is tapered in width from a maximum width to a minimum width, the maximum width of the second portion being located in proximity to the minimum width of said first portion and the minimum width of the second portion being located in proximity to the maximum width of the first portion.